Tanner Choiniere, Gary Mace, and Bruce Thibaud, all of Shelburne, won moose hunting permits at a lottery drawing in Waterbury on July 9. Michael O'Neill of Sheffield, Vt., who attended to witness the drawing, started the computer-generated selection process that randomly picked 765 winners among more than 12,000 people who applied.

The drawing was done by a random sort of applications that were submitted by the June 1 deadline. Lottery applications were $10 for Vermont residents and $25 for nonresidents. People who applied last year and didn't get a permit were given a bonus point, increasing their odds of winning a permit in future moose permit lotteries.

"Today's lottery drawing helps celebrate one of Vermont's successes in science-based wildlife management," said State Wildlife Biologist Cedric Alexander. "Vermont's moose management program has worked well since the first hunt in 1993, when 25 moose were taken with 30 permits issued. We expect 400-450 moose will be taken this fall in a carefully regulated hunt."

Permit winners will purchase resident hunting permits for $100 and nonresident permits for $350. Those who didn't win in the lottery may bid in a sealed-bid auction for five moose hunting permits. To receive a 2010 moose permit bid kit, contact the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 103 South Main Street, Waterbury, Vt. 05651-0501. Telephone (802) 241-3700 or email fwinfomation@state.vt.us. The deadline for bids is Aug. 3.

Vermont law prohibits anyone who has held a Vermont moose hunting permit within any of the previous three calendar years from applying for a moose hunting permit or a bonus point in the current year. This includes permits awarded through the auction bid process.